Hi Susan...I believe in both the cart and the horse...my point was to ask if in this matter does one belong in front of the other? Of course, but which is the cart...which is the horse?

The Epistles seems all seem to establish us as "saints"...to get that matter straight...to then declare how we got to become saints....rejoice in His work...THEN Paul, Peter...tackle the subject matter. It's like this...instead of law/gospel...the believer gets gospel then law. Good news first...then instruction on right practice.

Blessings,